Flat-bed printing-press.



No. 66|,924. Patented Nov. la, |900.-

S. WHITLDCK &. W. S. HUS-ON.

FLA'T BED PRINTING PRESS.

(Application led Apr. 2, 1900.) No Model.)v 2 Sheets-8% E/ Patented Nbv. I3, |900.

S. WHITLOCK W. S. HUSON. FLAT BED PRINTING PRESS.

(Application led Apr. 2, 19Go.) (No Model.)v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Unrrnn trams l Prien,

Artnr STURGES XVHITLOCK, OF SIIELTON, AND VINFIELD S. HUSON, OF DERBY,

CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNORS TO THE WHITLOCK PR'INTING PRESS MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF DERBY, CONNECTICUT.

FLAT-BED PRINTING-PRESS.

SPECIFCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 661,924, dated November 13, 1900.

Application tiled April Z, 1900. in'erial No. 11,054. (No model.)

To tZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, STURens WHITLocK, of Shelton, in the county of Fairiield, and WINFIELD S. HUSON, oi' Derby, in the county of New Haven, State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Flat-Bed Printin gPresses; and we do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the letters of rei"- erence marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-n Figure l, a partial View, in front elevation, of a liat-bed printing-press embodying our invention; Fig. 2, a View thereof, partly in elevation and partly in vertical transverse section, through the rollers of the plate-inking77 series of rollers; Fig. 3, a detail plan view showing the means employed for the lengthwise vibration of the distributer riderrollers of the plate-inking series and of the type or form inkingseries; Fig. 4, a View in side elevation, showing a modification of the means employed to rotate the rollers of the plate-hiking series.

Our invention relates to an improvement in that class of fiat-bed printing-presses employing a reciprocating type or form bed provided with an ink-plate adapted to receive ink from a suitable source of supply and to transmit it to a series of rollers from which the type or form receives its ink.

The objects of our present invention are to simplify such presses and make them more compact, to increase their durability and their convenience of attention and repair, and more particularly to better distribute throughout the machine the power for operating the same, and to secure a more perfect distribution of the ink.

With these ends in View our invention consists in certain details of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In carrying out our invention as herein shown it is applied to a fiat-bed printingpress in which the type-bed is reciprocated in the manner shown and described by United States Patent No. 560,180, granted May l2,

1896, to Sturges Vhitlock; but we do not limit ourselves to applying our present invention to a press embodying the construction shown by that patent.

As herein shown, the reciprocating type or form bed A, carrying the type or form A', is provided at its outer end with a horizontal ink-plate B, which is moved back and forth in the reciprocation of the bed AWunder a series of'rollers, which for convenience We 6o will speak of collectively as the "plate-inking series to distinguish them from the group of rollers located at the inner end ot' the bed and to be collectively called the type or form inking series. The ink is placed in a suitable 61; ink-fountain C, located at the fountain end of the press, as it is commonly called, and containing an immersed feed-rollerv C,'to which a step-by-step movement is imparted by suitable ratchet-and-pawl mechanism 7o (not shown) and which delivers the ink in fractional quantities to the s urface of the transfer-roller D, which is journaled in bearings located at the upper ends of two corresponding arms D', only one of which is shown. 75 These arms are secured at their lower ends to a rock-shaft E, oscillated by a depending lever E', the lower end of which is connected by an adjustable connecting-rod E2 with the lower end of a cam-lever E3, hung from the 8o frame of the machine upon a pivot El and provided with an antifriction-roller E5, running in a cam-groove f, formed in the transfer-roller cam F, which is mounted upon the main shaft G of the machine. 'Through the ac- 85 tion ofthe cam Ream-lever E3,connecting-rod E2, lever E', and rock-shaft E the arms D', and hence the transfer-roller D,are oscillated back and forth,so as to cause the transfer-roller to travel between the feed-roller C' in the foun- 9o tain C and the distributer rider-roller H, which will be described later on and which is one of the plate-inking series of rollers. In order to limit the oscillating movement of the transfer-roller and to provide a firm. stop for it at each end of its oscillating movement, we mount a stop-lever I upon the rock-shaft E and locate in lugs upon the frame of the machine two set-screws I and I2, which are engaged by the lever at the ends of its swingroo ing movement. It will be clear that by suitably adjusting the set-screws I' and I2 the transfer-roller may be stopped in its oscillating movement in any desired relation to the feed-roller C' and to the distributer riderroller H.

The distributer-roller H before referred to is one of a pair of distributer rider-rollers H H', the roller H riding upon two composition rollers J and J', and the roller H' riding upon two corresponding composition rollers J 2 and J3, and the composition rollers J and J2 be-` ing virtually connected for the transmission of ink from the former to the latter by means of an intermediate metal roller J4. rl`hese several rollers collectively form what we have heretofore termed the plate-inking series and are all located at a right angle to the path in which the type-bed A reciprocates. Their function is to transmit the ink received from the fountain C to the ink-plate B, from which the ink is transferred to the so-called type or form inking series, which is located near the center of the press and which is composed of two distributer rider-rollers K and K', two composition rollers L and L', upon which the roller K rides, two composition rollers L2 and L", upon which the roller K' rides, and a metal roller L4, virtually uniting the rollers L and L' for the transmission of ink from one to the other. These rollers constituting the type or form inking series are also located at a right angle to the path in which the type-bed reciprocates and transmit the ink which they receive from the ink plate to the type or form A'.

It will be understood, of course, that in the reci procation of the type-bed A the ink-plate passes first under the rollers of the type or form inking series of rollers and gives up its ink to them, and they in turn give' up the ink to the type or form as it passes under them in the reciprocation of the bed in the opposite direction.

The distributer rider-rollers H and H of the plate-inking series and the corresponding rollers K and K' of the type or form inking series are actuated in rotation by power derived not from the type-bed, as is often done in machines of this class, but from the mechanism employed to reciprocate the type-bed, which, as shown herein, is provided upon its under surface with a rack M, meshed into by a traveling gear li' provided with a pinion M2, meshing into a fixed rack M3, upon which the said pinion travels back and forth under the action of a pitman m, connected at its rear end to the shaft M4 of the traveling gear M' and at its forward end to a crank m upon the main shaft G, whereby, as set forth in the patent before referred to, the movement of the type-bed is compounded and made greater than the resultant of the crank movement. Upon the said shaft M4 of the traveling gear M' we mount a long rack-bar N, extending forward under the fountain end of the press and provided with a roller-actuating rack N', meshing into a pinion N2,which meshes into a pinion N3, mounted upon a shaft N4, which extends to one side of the machine and carries a large driving-gear N5, meshing into small gears O O (shown by broken lines in Fig. l and by full lines in Fig. 2) and themselves meshing into gears O', Fig. 2, located upon the inner ends of the shafts h of the distributer rider-rollers H and H', which rotate the composition rollers J, J', J2, and J3 by frictidnal Contact therewith, the intermediate metal roller J4 being rotated by frictional contact with the rollers J' and J2. The said rack-bar N together with its rack N constitute a reciprocating prime mover for the rotation and reversal of the rollers of the plate-inkiug series. Under this construction the distributer rider-rollers H and 'H' of the plate-inking series are rotated continuously in one direction throughout the excursion of the type-bed in one direction and then after a short period of rest are continuously rotated in the opposite direction throughout the excursion of the type-bed in the opposite direction, the said rollers being reversed in the direction of their rotation to correspond to the direction of the movement of the typebed.

It follows from the construction and operation above described that the rollers H and H' will not be rotated during the short interval of time elapsing between the inking and the printing excursions of the type-bed, but will be at rest, and this period during which the said rollers are at rest is utilized for transferring the ink from the transfer-roller D to the distributer rider-roller H. For this purpose the transfer-roller cam F is constructed and timed so that the transfer-roller D will not only be brought into contact with the roller H while the same is at rest, but will leave the said roller while the same is at rest, so that the transfer-roller will not be set in motion by the roller H, but Will return to the feed-roller C' in a state of rest. In this way we are enabled to dispense with the use of friction-brakes or other means for preventing the transfer-roller from wiping the feedroller by being brought into contact with it while rotating, which resultsvalso in impairing the surface of both rollers. We may also explain that the transfer-roller D is brought into contact with the distributer rider-roller H just after the ink-plate B in the forward or printing excursion of the type-bed A has cleared the composition roller J', so that the ink placed upon the roller H by the transferroller will be evenly distributed throughout the series of plate-inking rollers by the rotation thereof during the remainder of the forward or printing excursion of the type-bed and, during so much of the rearward or plateinking excursion thereof as takes lplace before the ink-plate comes in contact with the roller J 3.

The actuation of the rollers of the type or form inking series is effected by means en- TIO tirely independent of the means employed for actuating in rotation the rollers of the plateinking series and comprising a rack a, connected to the type-bed A and meshing into pinions a' u', which in turn mesh into pinions a2 d2, mounted upon the shafts 7c Za of the distributer rider-rollers K K', the positive rotation of which is frictionally communicated to the other rollers of the series, whereby they are driven. It will be understood, of course, that the rollers K and K' and the other rollers of the series to which they belong will be reversed in the direction of their rotation to correspond to the direction in which the rack is moving as it is reciprocated. In prior machines the rack employed to drive the type or form inking rollers has also been utilized to drive the rollers of the plate-inking series. lVhen a rack is employed, as described, for driving the plate-inking series as well as the type or form inking series of rollers, it must be not only as long as the full run of the typebed, but enough longer than that run to keep in mesh with the pinions of the rollers of the two series. In our improved machine, however, as we do not drive the plate-inking series directly from the type-bed, but from the type-bed-driving mechanism, which is shorter in stroke, the rack N', already described, need be but a trifle longer than the crank-stroke of the machine.

The vibration or lengthwise movement of the rollers H and H' of the plate-inking series and the rollers K and K' of the type or form inking series is effected by means of a suitably located and driven cam, which is not shown, but which is employed to actuate the connecting-rod P, att-ached to the arm P' of a bell-crank lever, mounted upon the lower end of an upright rock-shaft P2, which is employed for the vibration of the distributer rider-rollers K and K', as will be described later on. The other arm P3 of the said bellcrank lever is connected with the inner end of a long horizontally-arranged connectingrod P1, the opposite end of which is connected with a lever Q, mounted upon the lower end of an upright shaft Q', provided at its upper end with a two-armed lever R, the ends of the arms of which are provided with antifriction-rollers q, which enter between the flanges s s' of small flanged wheels S, located upon the extreme forward ends of the shafts h h of the distributer rider-rollers H and H'. The upper end of the rock-shaft P2 is furnished with a corresponding two-armed lever R', the extreme ends of the arms of which are furnished with small antifriction-rollers q q', which are entered between the flanges s' s' of flanged wheels S', located at the extreme forward ends of the shafts la of the distributer rider-rollers K K'. lt will be understood from the foregoing description that by means of these operating connections the rollers I-l and H' and K and K' will be longitudinally reciprocated or vibrated at the same time they are rotated, the two-armed levers R and R' being for this purpose oscillated Within narrow limits in a horizontal plane; but what we particularly wish to call attention to in this connection is the fact that the mechanisms employed for vibrating the distributer riderrollers of the two series are coupled together for simultaneous operation.

In place of employing the rack-bar N' for the actuation of the pinion N2, by means of which the rollers of the plate-inking series are driven and reversed in the direction of their rotation, we may, if we prefer, employ such a modied construction as is shown in Fig. et, in which a belt T takes the place of the rack-bar, this belt being at one end passed over a pulley T', mounted upon the shaft T2, upon which the pinion N2 is mounted,as shown in Fig. l. The other end of this belt passes over an idle pulley T3, mounted upon a stud T4, located at any convenient point .in the frame of the machine. A portion of this belt has secured to it a block U, which is connected with the projecting end of the shaft M4 of the traveling gear M', which as it travels back and forth causes the block U to partake of its movement, and hence actuates the belt first in one direction and then in the other, so as to cause a reverse rotation of the pulley T' and all of the connections thereof.

Ne would therefore have it understood that we do not wish to limit ourinventiou to the eX- act construction herein shown and described, but hold ourselves at "liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of our invention.

Having fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a flat-bed printing-press, the combination with a reciprocating type-bed, of an ink-plate carried thereby, a series of plateinking rollers, a reciprbcating prime mover for the plate-inking rollers, and gearing interposed between and connecting the said reciprocating primemover and the plate-inking rollers, whereby the same are rotated, and reversed in rotation in unison with the reciprocation of the type-bed,which is thus relieved of the work of driving the plate-inking rollers.

2. In a flat-bed printing-press, the combination with a reciprocating type-bed, of an ink-plate carried thereby,means for reciprocating the said type-bed, a series of plate-inking rollers, a reciprocating prime mover for the plate-iuking rollers connected with and actuated by the means for reciprocating the type-bed, and gearing interposed between the said prime mover and the plate-inking rollers for rotating them, and reversing them in unison with the reciprocation of the type-bed, whereby the same is relieved of the work of driving the said rollers.

3. In a Hat-bed printing-press, the combination with a reciprocating type-bed, of an ink-plate carried thereby, a series of type or IOO form inking rollers, mea-ns for driving t-he same from the type-bed, a series of plate-inking rollers,a reciprocating prime mover for the plate-inkin g rollers, having less reciprocating movement than the type-bed, and gearing between the said reciprocating prime mover and the rollers of the plate-inking series which are thereby rotated, and reversed in unison with the reciprocation of the type-bed.

'4. In a fiat-bed printing-press, the combination with a reciprocating type-bed, of an ink-plate carried thereby, a series of plateinking rollers, a reciprocating prime mover for the plate-inking rollers, gearing between the said prime mover and the plate-inlring rollers which are rotated, and reversed in unison with the reciprocation of the type-bed, a series of type or form inking rollers, and means independent of the said prime mover for rotating and reversing the form-inking rollers.

5. In a fiat-bed printing-press, the combination with a reciprocating type-bed, of an ink-plate carried thereby, a series of plateinking rollers, a reciprocating prime mover therefor, gearing between the said prime mover and the plate-inking rollers, which are rotated, and reversed in unison with the reciprocation of the type-bed, a series of type or form inking rollers driven independently7 of the said reciprocating prime mover, and means common to both series of rollers for simultaneously actuating their distributerrollers in lengthwise vibration without interfering with their independently-actuated rotation.

6. In a fiat-bed printing-press, the combination with a reciprocating type-bed, of an ink-plate carried thereby, a series of plateinking rollers, a reciprocating prime mover therefor, gearing between the said prime mover and the plate-inking rollers, which are thus rotated, and reversed in unison with the reciprocation of the type-bed, a series of type or form inking rollers rotated and reversed independently of the action of the said reciprocating prime mover, an upright rock-shaft having its upper end connected with the rider roller or rollers of the plate-inking series of rollers, an upright rock-shaft having its upper end connected with the rider roller or rollers of the form-inking series of rollers, and means connecting the two rock-shafts for operating them simultaneously, whereby the rider roller or rollers of both series are simultaneously actuated in lengthwise vibration.

7. In a fiat-bed printing-press, the combination with a reciprocating type-bed, of an ink-plate carried thereby, a series of plateinlring rollers comprising two distributer rider-rollers, a reciprocating prime mover therefor, gearing between the said prime mover and the plate-inking rollers which are rotated and reversed in rotation in accordance with the reciprocation of the type-bed, a series of type or form inking rollers comprising two distributer rider-rollers, means for rotating and reversing the said form-inking rollers independently of the said prime mover, two upright rock-shafts respectively located adjacent to the respective series of rollers, means for oscillating the said shafts simultaneously, and two two-armed levers respectively mounted upon the upper ends of the said rock-shafts and connected with the distributer rider-rollers of the said two series of rollers, whereby the rider-rollers ot' both series of rollers are simultaneously actuated in lengthwise vibration.

8. In a flat-bed printing-press, the combination with a reciprocating type-bed, of an ink-plate carried thereby, a series of plateinking rollers, means for reciprocating the type-bed, a reciprocating rack-bar carrying a rack and reciprocated independently of the said type-bed by the said means, and gearing between the said rack and the rollers of the plate-inking series which are thereby rotated and reversed in rotation in unison with the reciprocation of the type-bed.

9. In a flat-bed printing-press, the combination with a series of plate-inking rollers, of a transfer-roller adapted to receive ink from a source of supply, and to transfer the same to a roller of the said series, and means for moving the transfer-roller from its receiving to its discharging position and vice versa, the said means being timed to move the transferroller from its discharging to its receiving position in a state of rest as to rotation.

l0. In a fiat-bed printing-press, the combination with a series of plate-inking rollers including a distributer rider-roller, of an inkfountain, a transfer-roller adapted to receive ink from the said fountain and transfer it to the said distributer rider-roller, and means for actuating the said roller, whereby it is moved from contact with the said distributerroller while the same is in a state of rest as to rotation, so that the said transfer-roller is returned to the said ink-fountain in a state Vof rest as to rotation.

l1'. In a flat-bed printing-press, the combination with a reciprocating type-bed, of an ink-plate carried thereby, a distributer-roller, means for actuating the same and reversing the direction of its rotation to correspond to the reversal of direction in the movement of the type-bed, an ink-fountain, a transferroller adapted to receive ink from said fountain and transfer it to the said distribnterroller, and means for operating the said transfer-roller and timed to cause the same to break contact with the distributor-roller, while the same is in a state of rest as to rotation, and while the type-bed is also at rest.

12. In a Hat-bed printing-press, the combination with a reciprocating type-bed, of an ink-plate carried thereby, an ink-fountain, a series of plate-inking rollers including a distributer rider-roller, a transfer-roller adapted to receive ink from the fountain and transfer IOO IOS

IIO

it to the said rider-roller, and means for movspecification in the presence of the Subscribing the said transfer-roller back and forth ing' Witnesses. between the fountain andthe said rider-roller, STURGES WI-IITLOCK. the said means being,` timed to Cause the trans- WINFIELD S. HUSON.

5 fer-roller not to break Contact with the said 1 rider-roller except When the same is in a state Wltgesfsgges Whltlock' of rest, whereby the transfer-roller reaches L' R' FERYALS) the inkfonntain in a state 0f rest and returns L to the said rider-roller in astate 0f rest, With- Witnesses for Wineld S. Huson:

ro out the employment of braking appliances. JULIUS G. DAY,

In testimony whereof we have signed this WALTER RANDALL. 

